Timetable: NYC - Fort Wayne Branch - Jackson to Fort Wayne

This was the original Fort Wayne & Jackson railroad. The route was reorganized several times, becomming the Fort Wayne Branch of the Lake Shore and then New York Central from Jackson south to Fort Wayne, IN. Station hours and siding capacity from 1936 and based on 44' cars.

Notes:

Jackson: Early on, this branch line may have crossed the MC main line near Jackson Junction to get to a station which was on the north side of the main line. Soon, this line used Jackson's union station. The yard in Jackson was known as the "Fort Wayne Yard" and was approximately near where the Amtrak section house is today just east of the Union Station.

Jackson: The Fort Wayne Branch ran on the north side of the Michigan Air Line from Jackson to Haires. Then, for a time, both lines operated as double track.

OD Tower: 10 mph through this interlocking.

Haires: The Fort Wayne Branch crossed over the Air Line as it turned south here.

Fort Wayne Junction: This line originally crossed the Old Road and ran to Bankers directly. Early on, the Fort Wayne branch used a wye at Fort Wayne Junction to access Hillsdale, then used the Ypsilanti Branch from Hillsdale (wye) to Bankers. Even though the route from Fort Wayne Junction to Bankers was seldom used, it was maintained for many years because of the lease terms with the owner. Motor car groups used this short section occasionally.

Note Key: BB=Bascule Bridge | C=Coal | CS=Car Shop | D=Open > Day | DN=Open Day and night | DS=Dispatcher | DT=Double Main Track | EH=Enginehouse | F=Diesel Fuel | HI=Half Interlocked Crossing | I=Interlocked Crossing | J=Junction | LB=Liftbridge | N=Open at night | P=Passing Track w/40' car capacity | Q=Quarry | RH=Roundhouse # stalls | RT=Railroad Resort | S=Scales | SB=Swingbridge | T=Turntable | TC=Telegraph call | W=Water | X=Crossing | Y=Wye | Yard=Yard

[REF] = NYC Timetable plus additions.

Notes

Time Line

1869. December. The FWJ&S operates one train daily passenger train and one mixed train between Jackson and Jonesville each way. The mixed train also operates south to Reading and back to Jackson. Baldwin's, Mosherville, Jonesville and Reading are regular stops. Wilson's, Hanover, and Bankers are flag stops. Trains are run by Jackson time, which is fifteen minutes faster than Chicago or Michigan Central time. Close connections are provided at Jackson (MC and J&LS) and Jonesville (LS&MS). [DFP-1869-1227]

1870. December 25. The railroad is completed and opened from Jackson to Fort Wayne. [DFP-1882-0905] It is approximately 100 miles in length.

1871. The Fort Wayne, Jackson and Saginaw operates three passenger trains round trip between Jackson and Fort Wayne. Southbound trains leave Jackson at 6:30 a.m., noon, and 4:45 p.m. Northbound trains arrive at Jackson at 10:50 a.m., 3:10 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Trains appear to pass at Jonesville, Mosherville, and Clear Lake (just north of the Indiana state line). These trains operate from Jonesville south via Bankers and do not stop at Hillsdale. The FWJ&S was an independent road at this time. [MCGW]

1879. The railroad reorganizes as the Fort Wayne & Jackson railroad. [MRRC]

1882. Even though Fort Wayne is served by many major railroads, it is reported that the Fort Wayne & Jackson receives three fifths of all traffic at the place. This fact speaks better for M.D. Woodford's management than anything that could be said. Woodford, a modest, quiet and unassuming as he is, always had a way of imbuing  his subordinates with a part of his indefatigability. [DFP-1882-0531]

1882. November. At the time the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern took possession of the Fort Wayne & Jackson road, the General Manager of the LS&MS visited Hillsdale and proposed to the citizens that if they would provide the right of way and grade the track, the company would bring the Fort Wayne road into Hillsdale, bring the Lansing Division, which now terminates at Jonesville, to Hillsdale, and make the headquarters of the Ypsilanti, Fort Wayne & Jackson divisions and Lansing Division at Hillsdale. The citizens at once took hold of the matter and now have the required amount - $20,000 - to nearly subscribe that at the meeting held Monday evening a general committee was appointed to secure the right of way and close the contract with the company. In making this new connection a part of the track of the Ypsilanti division between Hillsdale and Bankers will be used and only about a mile of new track will have to be built. Between Hillsdale and Jonesville, the track of the Lake Shore Road will be used for the present. When this connection is completed trains will run from Ypsilanti to Fort Wayne, and from Lansing and Jackson to Fort Wayne, all passing through Hillsdale, and it will become quite a railroad center. Hillsdale people are enthusiastic over the matter and see in it the dawning of a new era for Hillsdale. [DFP-1882-1122]

1899. The Fort Wayne branch operates three passenger trains daily except Sunday in each direction. [HS-1899-0214]